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Officials in Iraq Confirm Death of Key Terrorist

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28, 2010  Officials in Iraq have positively identified a terrorist killed Jan. 22 after he attacked a security-team member acting on a warrant against him.

Multiple tests, including fingerprint matches, confirmed the identity of Saad Uwayyd Ubayd Mujil al-Shammari, also known as Abu Khalaf. Shammari was name in a court-issued warrant as a key al-Qaida in Iraq member wanted for facilitating the entry of hundreds of foreign terrorists from Syria into Iraq since 2006.

For the past four years, Shammari was considered by U.S. and Iraqi intelligence officials to be a foremost senior al-Qaida foreign terrorist facilitator who assisted in the movement of hundreds of terrorists from Syria into Iraq.

The foreign terrorists conducted numerous high-profile attacks throughout Iraq and killed many people, including security forces in Iraq, Iraqi government workers and civilians, officials said.

Based on information collected from other members of the terrorist network previously arrested and questioned, Shammari prepared many of the foreign terrorists in Syria prior to their entry into Iraq to conduct suicide attacks. He also was key in obtaining and distributing money and weapons to terrorist group members operating throughout Iraq.

As a result of Shammari's death, it is likely that al-Qaida in Iraq's ability to obtain foreign fighters, finance operations and conduct suicide attacks against the Iraqi populace has been significantly disrupted, officials said.

In other news from Iraq, Iraqi security forces arrested two wanted al-Qaida in Iraq criminal accomplices in Baghdad today.

In southwestern Baghdad, Iraqi forces and U.S. advisors searched several homes for a suspected explosives-cell leader who coordinates and approves attacks. Preliminary questioning and evidence collected at the scene led Iraqi forces to identify and arrest the wanted person and two accomplices.

During a separate operation in northwestern Baghdad, Iraqi forces and U.S. advisors searched two homes for an explosives-cell member who transports explosives and coordinates entry of foreign terrorists into the capital city to conduct attacks. Evidence collected at the scene resulted in the identification and arrest of the wanted person and three suspected associates.

In northeastern Baghdad today, Iraqi forces working with U.S. advisors arrested a suspected terrorist today while searching for a suspected Promised Day Brigade terrorist group leader who coordinates logistics. Preliminary questioning and evidence collected at the scene resulted in the arrest of a suspected associate of the wanted man.

In Ninevah province yesterday, Iraqi police shot and killed a would-be suicide bomber disguised as a policeman as he tried to attack a police compound.

The attacker's explosives-packed vest detonated and injured three police officers and a U.S. soldier. Immediate medical attention was administered to the injured, who were all evacuated to nearby medical facilities.

The U.S. soldier was listed in stable condition by doctors at a military base in Mosul.

In other recent operations:

-- An Iraqi emergency response unit in Duluiyah, north of Baghdad, arrested a suspected terrorist yesterday while searching for a suspect believed to have direct association with al-Qaida in Iraq leadership.

-- Iraqi police with U.S. advisors acting on a tip seized 107 57 mm Russian anti-aircraft rocket rounds Jan. 26 at a truck-repair garage south of the Beiji oil refinery.